Averett University

Danville, VA 24540

Virginia Northeast

Private Small Developing team

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Coaches

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Erin Murphy

Erin Murphy was promoted to head coach of Averett University's women's lacrosse program in July 2022 after serving as a longtime assistant coach with the Cougars.

In her first season as head coach in 2023, Murphy guided Averett to a 9-5 overall record and a 4-4 mark in the highly competitive Old Dominion Athletic Conference in the Cougars' first year in the league. Averett set a program record with seven wins in a row to open the 2023 season. Murphy coached two All-ODAC performers, two Virginia Sports Information Directors All-State selections, one VaSID Academic All-State selection and three Academic All-District selections by the College Sports Communicators.

Murphy was the first assistant coach for Averett when the university brought back women's lacrosse as a sponsored sport during the 2017-18 academic year. Murphy was an assistant from July 2017 through May 2019. She returned to the program as an assistant coach in August 2020 for two seasons before being elevated to the head coach role.

In addition to being an assistant coach from August 2020 through July 2022, Murphy worked as an admissions counselor at Averett.

Murphy played four seasons of collegiate lacrosse, including her final two at Division II Wingate University, where she was a two-time team captain. She earned all-conference second team honors at midfield, leading her team in scoring in 2015. During her senior campaign, she earned honorable mention all-conference defense in 2016. Prior to Wingate, Murphy played two seasons at Division I Presbyterian College as a midfielder. She tied the school record for draw control.

In addition to her playing experience, Murphy has served as an assistant coach with the Dover Defy Lacrosse, Extreme Lacrosse and Queen City Lacrosse Clubs.

A native of Mooresville, North Carolina, Murphy earned her bachelor's degree in psychology from Wingate in 2016. She earned her master's degree in business administration with a concentration in human resource management from Averett in May 2019.

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Hannah Mae Ayers

Hannah Mae Ayers ‘22 returned to the Averett University women's lacrosse program as an assistant coach in July 2023.

Ayers was a four-year member of the Averett women’s lacrosse program from 2018-22, earning USA South All-Conference Second Team honors at attack in 2019 with USA South All-Tournament Team accolades the same season. Ayers set the USA South record for assists in a single game with 12 against Brevard College in 2019 and holds the program marks as well for assists in a season (49) and a career (75). Ayers finished her career in fifth all-time in points in program history. Additionally, Ayers was named USA South Rookie of the Week once and earned Academic All-Conference honors during her time as a Cougar while making the Dean’s List all four years.

A native of Wake Forest, North Carolina, Ayers graduated from Averett in May 2022 with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and psychology (clinical and counseling concentration). She’s pursuing her master’s degree from Averett.

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Bryan Habick

Bryan Habick was named Averett University's head coach for men's lacrosse in July 2023.

The second head coach in the Cougars' history, Habick came to Averett after serving as the men’s lacrosse head coach at NAIA Saint Andrews University. Habick led the Saint Andrews program for two seasons as head coach after being promoted from associate head coach and defensive coordinator following the 2021 season. Prior to Saint Andrews, Habick was the men’s lacrosse assistant coach at Division III College of Wooster from August 2018 until July 2020, where he helped the Fighting Scots earn a fourth-place finish in the North Coast Athletic Conference and produce three all-conference selections and two all-tournament team selections. He also served as an assistant coach for Division III Marywood University in 2018, helping the program place third in the conference standings with five all-conference selections.

Habick got his coaching start in 2015 as an assistant coach at Division III Capital University, where the program won the Ohio Athletic Conference regular season title, produced the OAC Offensive Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year and totaled 11 all-conference selections. He then spent the 2016 season at Division III Washington & Jefferson College as an assistant coach. The Presidents finished third in the conference, tallied eight all-conference selections and had one USILA All-Region All-Star. Habick then earned his first head coaching position at Division III Wilmington College, where he coached two seasons.

In addition to his college coaching experience, Habick has coached and evaluated youth and travel lacrosse in Ohio, Pennsylvania, North Carolina and New Jersey.

Outside of coaching, Habick has served on multiple NCAA and NAIA lacrosse committees. He is also the owner and founder of Down-East Athletics LLC.

A native of Brielle, New Jersey, Habick played four seasons at Utica University as a defenseman, longstick midfielder and shortstick defensive midfielder.

Habick earned his Bachelor of Arts in communication arts from Utica in May 2014. He joins the Averett family along with his wife, Michelle.